- Gold was trading around its highest in three months on Thursday morning sessions, continuing to gain from risk-off investor sentiment. - The spot gold price was last at $1,146.7/1,147.0 per ounce, up $4.80 on the previous close and its highest since October 30. Trade has ranged from $1,139.7 to $1,147.7 so far. - Expectations of further interest rate hikes in the US have declined and the dollar fell after weaker than expected US data on Wednesday, lending additional support to gold. - As well, Federal Reserve Bank of New York president William Dudley said that tighter financial conditions would be taken into account at the next Fed policy meeting in March – investors interpreted this as a further delay in a US interest rate hike. A majority of market participants do not see a rate hike happening this year, compared to a week ago when consensus was for an increase in July, according to the CME Group FedWatch. - The key event will be tomorrow’s US non-farm payroll data which, if it should disappoint, could add to the slide in the dollar. - Silver was little changed at $14.765/14.785. Platinum at $886/891 climbed $12 and palladium at $505/510 was unchanged.

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